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Tehran, Jun. 08 Ė With only a draw needed against Bahrainís football side for Iran to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, State Security Forces in their thousands have lined the perimeter in and around Tehranís 100,000-seater Azadi Stadium to prevent sporadic demonstrations against the state.

Ahead of the football match, all eyes are on the gathering crowd in and around the stadium as much as they will be on the players themselves, with many expecting post-match celebrations to turn political, as they have done on previous occasions.

At the main entrance to the stadium under tight security tens of thousands of youths have been turned away despite having tickets for the match.

The atmosphere is becoming increasingly out of control, with many youths openly declaring that they would use the opportunity to call for a boycott of Iranís upcoming presidential elections.

With more than half of Iranís population under the age of 25, youths in Iran are a driving force behind calls for social freedoms.

Tension has been building up all day and thousands of special anti-riot units have been on high alert hours before the match is set to start, eye witnesses said.

A similar qualifier match against Japan in Azadi Stadium in March saw a brutal crackdown on spectators by agents of the SSF after people used sonic-booms, chanted anti-regime slogans, and started an anti-government demonstration.

Seven people were killed following that match, sparking the international football governing body FIFA to request an investigation by authorities as to the cause of the deaths.

By Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Security was tight at Tehran's Azadi stadium on Wednesday ahead of a World Cup soccer qualifier against Bahrain which could spark wild street celebrations if the Iranian team wins.

Iran needs a draw to repeat its feats of 1978 and 1998 by joining the world's soccer elite at the World Cup Finals in Germany next summer.

In the past, raucous post-match celebrations with young people dancing in the streets have turned political with many shouting slogans against the clerical state's rulers and smashing windows of public buildings.

The game comes ahead of presidential elections June 17, pitting former members of Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards against outspoken reformists and pro-business pragmatist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

"All the necessary measures have been taken for a peaceful match," Tehran police spokesman Mohammad Tourang told Reuters. "We are ready to control those who will try to create unrest."

Soccer is a national obsession in Iran and the match has comfortably overshadowed lacklustre interest in the elections.

"This is a good chance for the establishment. If they let us celebrate, we will change our minds and vote," joked Mina, 17.

The youth vote is important with half the population under the age of 25 and a minimum voting age of 15.

Witnesses said security was heavy around the 100,000 capacity stadium.

"To secure people's safety, only 70,000 fans are allowed to show up for the match," said Tourang.

Analysts said post-match celebrations were an excuse for the young to vent their frustrations at limited political and social freedoms in the Islamic state.

Hours before the game, cars toured the streets hooting their horns and teenagers waved Iran's national flag, while police kept a watchful eye.

"We will definitely win. I will dance and celebrate until morning," said university student Mostafa, 21.

Iranian Opposition was in fast sleep while MILLIONS of Iranians packed the streets of IRAN last night.

Well, thatīs wrong. NITV, Meyboodi, Channelone X.TV etc were all reporting from the night and asking people to go out. H.M Reza Pahlavi appeared for a few minutes on Radio Sedaye Iran and supported the people saying today people should go out to the streets and on 27th they should stay home and boycott the regimeīs sham elections._________________Long live the memory of Shahanshah Aryamehr.
Long live Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
Long live Reza Shah II

It's mainly because they consider it too risky to wave their national flag so they stick to the Islamic Regime's flag so as not to get in trouble, also some don't know about their national flag simply because they were born after the revolution (but these people must be very low in numbers since I believe that everyone should know nowadays).

It's mainly because they consider it too risky to wave their national flag so they stick to the Islamic Regime's flag so as not to get in trouble, also some don't know about their national flag simply because they were born after the revolution (but these people must be very low in numbers since I believe that everyone should know nowadays).

IT'S ALSO BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY BOUGHT THOUSANDS OF THEIR OWN FLAGS, AND MADE IT AVAILABLE AT THE STADIUM !!!!